Russell holds off Verstappen for narrow Baku victory
The Mercedes driver won by 0.196 seconds after two safety car phases, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished fifth.
George Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for Mercedes, finishing 0.196 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen in Baku. The victory was Russell’s eighth in Formula One, his third this season and his first since the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
Verstappen started eighth and closed on Russell after two safety car phases brought the leaders together late in the race. Isack Hadjar finished third on his return after missing the previous three races with a wrist injury.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished fifth after starting 16th. He had crashed during Friday qualifying. The Al Jazeera report said his lead over Russell narrowed by 15 points to 66 after 15 rounds.
Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari, ahead of Antonelli. Lewis Hamilton finished sixth, with Arvid Lindblad seventh. Esteban Ocon, Oliver Bearman and Carlos Sainz completed the top 10.
